Chapter 131: Qin Huairu's Midnight Meeting with Xu Daming (Seeking Subscriptions)

The Yi family.

Since the Dayuan meeting ended.

Yi Zhonghai began acting odd; from the moment he got home, the hypocrite sat stock‑still on the stool for a full hour, saying nothing and not moving, just sitting there like a block of wood.

The eldest aunt noticed Yi Zhonghai acting strangely, waved her hand in front of the hypocrite's face, saw that even his eyeballs were too lethargic to move, and shouted.

"Old man, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me."

The eldest aunt's anxious shout penetrated Yi Zhonghai's ears, bringing the day‑dreaming Yi Zhonghai back to his senses; he stared with two blank, lifeless eyes, glanced at the eldest aunt, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Ah!"

There were many hardships within: bitterness, pain, and helplessness.

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai's emotions were a tangled mix; a small 'ah' could not possibly cover them—for himself, but even more for Qin Huairu.

Everyone knows Yi Zhonghai is the matchmaker who brought Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu together; Qin Huairu's every action, whether she fares well or not, reflects Yi Zhonghai's reputation. If she fares poorly, or if the Jia mother and son don't look upon her favorably, people won't blame the Jia mother and son—they'll say Yi Zhonghai failed to set Qin Huairu up with a good partner, pushing her into a fire pit.

Since the second child, Xiao Dang, turned out to be a girl.

The neighbors witnessed Qin Huairu's bitter days.

Jia Zhangshi, pointing at the mulberry while cursing the locust tree, despised Qin Huairu for not giving the Jia family a son, instead bearing a child who would sooner or later become a loss‑making commodity for another household.

As Qin Huairu's husband, Jia Dongxu also grew increasingly distant from her.

As for the Jia family matters, Qin Huairu privately told Yi Zhonghai several times, urging him to persuade Jia Dongxu; in the end, Yi Zhonghai's advice went in one ear and out the other for Jia Dongxu—he did as he pleased, and Qin Huairu continued to be neglected.

"If I had known it would come to this, why bother in the first place!"

The eldest aunt, who knew why Yi Zhonghai was worried, let out a faint sigh.

Initially, when selecting Jia Dongxu as the old‑age support target, the eldest aunt had voiced opposition, advising Yi Zhonghai multiple times. The son born to Jia Zhangshi could hardly be a fine bird; he pales in comparison to the honest Shazhu. Rather than let Jia Dongxu support them in their old age, it would be better to adopt a child themselves. Yi Zhonghai not only refused to listen, but schemed to get Jia Dongxu a partner so that Jia Dongxu would help support them. Now things have turned out well: Jia Dongxu and Jia Zhangshi are dissatisfied with Qin Huairu in every way, Yi Zhonghai's face has been trampled underfoot by the Jia family, and all his years of painstaking effort have been ruined in an instant.

As for old‑age support, one can only rely on oneself.

Yi Zhonghai, however, ended up listening to the deaf old lady's nonsense, frantically searching for an old‑age support target within the siheyuan, and ultimately came to nothing.

Silence lingered for a long time.

Yi Zhonghai could only first have a meal.

As for the Jia family's affairs, he truly hadn't devised an effective countermeasure.

All he could do was set it aside for now.

He would slowly plan for it.

Night fell.

1 a. m.

After relieving himself, Xu Daming pulled up his pants and had just stepped out of the toilet when he faintly heard an intermittent crying sound.

"Wuu… wuu… wuu."

In the stillness of night, everything around was pitch black, and the dim streetlights that echoed the darkness filled Xu Daming with endless dread.

The wailing that entered his ears made Xu Daming, whose nerves were already at breaking point, shudder all over. He subconsciously recalled some eerie things; his scalp went numb and the hairs on his body stood up, his body turned stiff, and even the act of lifting his feet to step away became extraordinarily difficult. His legs felt as if filled with lead, unusually heavy, forcing Xu Daming to summon all his strength, yet even so his legs remained utterly immobile, as if his feet had taken root in the ground or he had lost all strength.

Damn it!

Could it be that I've run into something bad?

Xu Daming had gone to the countryside to show movies; while tinkering with the equipment, he had heard old folks talk about Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio—midnight toilets, red‑clad female ghosts, ancient‑temple scholars, and the like.

Back then he didn't think much of it.

Now, however, he has brought himself into that kind of creepy eeriness.

Xu Daming bent over, grabbed his legs with both hands, trying to shift his legs aside as if moving an object, to get out of this damned place.

In the end, he ended up unable to move at all.

A bitter feeling welled up in Xu Daming's heart.

He wanted to hum a song to steel his courage, but his mouth was so dry he couldn't utter a note, or perhaps an invisible hand covered his mouth, keeping him from singing.

"Wuu… wuu… wuu."

The sound of crying.

Once again it flew into Xu Daming's ears.

The sound seemed to come from the neighboring women's toilet.

Xu Daming's panicked heart grew ever more fearful.

He recalled a rumor from years ago, back when the little Japanese hadn't been driven off yet: two little Japanese were out on the street looking for fun when a female student accidentally bumped into them and was seen by the little Japanese; they chased her, she ran, she outran the little Japanese's female student, slipped and fell into the cesspit, and by the time she was rescued she was already dead—the incident took place right next to Xu Daming's neighboring women's toilet.

Could that female student have come back?

The more he pondered,

The more he felt this possibility existed.

It seemed that the women around the streets wouldn't use the toilet between midnight and 4 a. m.

Xu Daming swallowed a mouthful of saliva dryly.

His knees gave way and he knelt on the ground, bowing three times toward the women's toilet; his speechless mouth finally found its voice.

He chose to say something pleasant.

"Lady inside, hear me out: the little Japanese have been routed, we are victorious; I know you met an unjust end, but the two little Japanese who pursued you also died afterward, so don't frighten me—I'm timid, I scare easily; we've borne no grudge before, no feud now; we're both gardeners. My Xu family has three generations of bachelors; I still haven't taken a wife—may you, sir, not hold a commoner's fault against me; please don't treat me as an equal."

Again, he knocked his head three times.

I don't know if it's merely a psychological effect.

Or perhaps it's some cause that science cannot explain.

Xu Daming's spirit and vigor suddenly improved; a moment ago it still didn't belong to his body, and the next second it had gathered back under his command.

Bie Sun, seeing he could move, summoned all his strength, dashed out of the toilet, and in two or three steps entered the Siheyuan.

Out of panic, he didn't go home but rushed straight into Shazhu's house. Xu Daming now didn't dare stay alone at home; he just wanted to find someone who could make him feel at ease, and after thinking it over, only Shazhu, this brother, fit the bill.

In short, he took Shazhu as a human shield; if a female ghost really came seeking revenge, Xu Daming would surely shove Shazhu out first to block the attack.

Xu Daming didn't even have time to take off his shoes; he dove straight into Shazhu's blanket.

The midnight women's crying in the toilet terrified Xu Daming, shattering his timid spirit.

Shazhu, asleep in a hazy, blissful stupor.

A door not bolted.

He let Xu Daming run inside.

In deep sleep, he felt his body inexplicably turn cold, mistakenly thinking he had wet the bed; he fumbled around, found the light switch, turned on the light, and the sight that met his eyes made the drowsy Shazhu's head buzz.

How did Xu Daming get in here?

Could it be that this damned guy's sexual orientation is off?

Shazhu looked down at himself; his autumn undershirt and pants were still on, and his heart settled.

His gaze then fell on Xu Daming, who was curled up in his blanket, trembling all over and clutching himself; without any courtesy, not treating Xu Daming as a brother, he lifted his foot and kicked Xu Daming straight to the ground, showing no mercy, and then spat out a curse.

"Xu Daming, you fucking sick? It's the middle of the night, not sleeping, running into my room—what are you up to? Did you overdo it and see a female ghost?"

It was merely an offhand remark by Shazhu.

But Xu Daming took it as a lifeline, his face ashen as he looked at Shazhu and said, trembling with lingering fear: "How did you know I saw a ghost?"

Shazhu's first thought was that Xu Daming was joking with him, but seeing Xu Daming's uncontrollable trembling, his deathly pale face, his serious tone that didn't sound like joking, plus the fact that he had run to Shazhu's house in the middle of the night, Shazhu wondered: Could Xu Daming really have seen a ghost?

Where in the world are there ghosts?

There are no ghosts.

"Xu Daming, we're not joking." Shazhu blinked, then said, "Don't talk nonsense."

"Shazhu, look at my state—do I look like I'm joking?"

Seeing Shazhu not believe he had encountered a ghost, Xu Daming almost cried, saying, "I'm like this—how could I be joking with you? I must have water in my brain to joke about seeing a ghost."

"Just now I went to the toilet; after I finished, I wanted to return, but I heard a faint woman's crying from the next toilet. Think about it—who cries in the women's toilet at midnight if not a female ghost? You've forgotten what happened a few years ago. I wanted to run, but I couldn't move at all, and I was so anxious I wanted to cry."

"Are you sure it's a ghost and not a person?"

Shazhu still doubted it; Xu Daming seeing a ghost was just nonsense, and it wasn't ruled out that Xu Daming had invited divine retribution, with heaven unable to look on any longer.

Don't you dare mess around recklessly.

"Why would I lie to you? It's really a ghost—look, I was almost scared into wetting my pants."

"I don't believe it."

"If you don't believe me, just look and you will."

"Fine, let's look—who's afraid of whom?" Shazhu, also possessed by a reckless daring, put on his clothes, grabbed a flashlight, and then, feeling uneasy, picked up a book from the table, saying, "With this, I fear nothing—not even a female ghost; even if the Heavenly King himself came, he'd have to retreat three leagues."

Seeing the book in Shazhu's hand, Xu Daming's heart steadied; noticing Shazhu was going to catch a ghost, he also grew interested, imitating Shazhu by grabbing another book from the table.

This matter must be clarified, no matter what.

Otherwise, Xu Daming wouldn't dare sleep alone at night.

He also worked as a film projectionist, and night shifts were common; surely he couldn't give up this job that made countless people envious.

"I'll go with you; if anything happens, at least we'll have each other's back." Xu Daming pressed the book to his chest, giving himself a few words of comfort and encouragement: "With a book in hand, I possess the world; I fear nothing, I dread nothing—I am Xu Daming, I can do it, I fear nothing, I dread nothing…"

Don't say it.

Having said that.

Xu Daming's confidence surged; his left hand gripped the book, his right hand snatched a fire poker, and he followed behind Shazhu's back toward the toilet on Jiēdào.

At first it didn't matter, but as they neared the toilet, Xu Daming's steady heart suddenly grew unsteady, pounding like a startled deer, and he muttered the book's words under his breath: "We are great…anything frightening is illusory and nonexistent; enemies cannot defeat us; I fear nothing, I am not afraid…"

……

Strictly speaking.

It was Xu Daming scaring himself; he had made a mistake.

The crying sound coming from the women's toilet was real; Xu Daming hadn't misheard—there really was someone crying in the adjacent women's toilet.

However, the person crying was not the female ghost Xu Daming imagined; it was a resident of the Siheyuan, the classic protagonist of the drama 'Beasts Fill the Siheyuan'—the Jia family's daughter-in-law, Qin Huairu.

Life's hardships left Qin Huairu deeply repressed; the scolding from Jia Zhangshi, the contempt from Jia Dongxu, and the neighbors' indifference turned into merciless blades cutting at Qin Huairu, fracturing her mind and body, leaving her on the verge of a severe breakdown.

Crying became Qin Huairu's sole means of venting her inner discontent; she used the women's toilet as a place to release her depression. Often taking advantage of Jia Zhangshi's deep sleep and the toilet being empty of outsiders, she would find an excuse to cry there. Worried that loud sounds might attract attention and worsen her situation, she stifled her sobs by pressing her hands over her mouth, lowering her voice as much as possible and restraining the rhythm of her crying.

When Xu Daming had just finished using the toilet and left, the low, intermittent sobbing he heard was exactly that; the low crying against the quiet night and the eerie toilet led people to mistake it for a female ghost—understandably so, as anyone would be scared enough to wet their pants.

After Xu Daming fled in fright, Qin Huairu's mind would occasionally flash with the Jia family mother and son's various dissatisfactions, reproaches, guardings, and warnings; her sense of grievance swelled like a flood, uncontrollable.

Thus crying became Qin Huairu's only recourse.

She therefore took advantage of everyone being asleep, Jia Zhangshi not watching her, and no one paying attention, to vent her pent-up anger.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, was about to rise and leave, when she heard a hurried footsteps approaching, accompanied by Xu Daming's muttered self‑encouragement.

"There's no ghost; I misheard. I fear nothing—I have a book, I have a book in hand, I can stop men from killing men, Buddhas from killing Buddhas. I am Xu Daming; I fear nothing, I am not afraid, I can do it. I am Xu Daming; no obstacle can stop me, Xu Daming. Xu Daming is invincible, Xu Daming is brave; Xu Daming will eliminate all difficulties, smite gods and evil."

That said.

Yet when Xu Daming reached the women's toilet, he still felt a pang of fear; his steps halted abruptly, he turned his head to look at Shazhu behind him, wearing a pitiful expression.

Shazhu gave a cold snort.

These times.

Xu Daming dares to mess around, having gone beyond friendship with twenty female comrades; I originally thought he was a bold bastard, but it turns out his guts aren't that big either—you bastard, why don't you go in?

What does it mean to stop and not leave!

Let me go in?

Xu Daming really means that; he plans to let Shazhu take the lead—we're all brothers, and at this point of life and death, if we don't screw over our own brothers, who will we screw over?

Brothers.

Let me have a go.

"Xu Daming, you go in."

"Shazhu." Xu Daming had a fawning smile on his face as he said to Shazhu, "You go first."

Qin Huairu hiding in the toilet had her thoughts thrown into disarray; she had thought only Xu Daming would come, but it turned out to be Xu Daming and Shazhu. Xu Daming, from time to time, would chat with Qin Huairu, try to get close, comfort her—what he was thinking, what scheme he had—Qin Huairu, as a woman who had given birth to two children, was sharp about such things; isn't it just the usual business between men and women?

The key is that Shazhu is different.

Since Qin Huairu moved into the Siheyuan, the Jia family has had nothing to do with Shazhu to the death, except for mutual scheming; as for Shazhu, Qin Huairu only felt envy, envy of Shazhu's life—the Siheyuan's foremost wealthy household, with a sewing machine, a bicycle, and even a radio and camera; looking at the Jia family, although they have a sewing machine, it was bought with help from Yi Zhonghai.

Some things.

The neighbors saw it.

Shazhu's attitude toward He Yushui—He Daqing had run off with a widow, while Shazhu propped up the He family's gate, watching over the once tiny He Yushui and raising her into a little piglet; the kids of the surrounding mansions didn't envy He Yushui, a typical case of being overfed.

Every New Year, He Yushui had to wear a brand-new outfit, whereas other families would pass down clothes from the eldest to the second, from the second to the third, and the fourth and fifth would anxiously also need new clothes.

That saying really came true: 'new for three years, old for three years, mended and patched for another three years.'

As for life, Shazhu almost every Sunday would take He Yushui out to improve their livelihood; even if they cooked at home, making only coarse tea and plain rice, Shazhu's superb culinary skills made it fragrant, delicious, and appealing.

Countless times, Qin Huairu hid in the Jia household, smelling the fragrant aroma of food wafting from Shazhu's house next door, eating her steamed corn buns.

Thanks to Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu came to know just how superb Shazhu's cooking skills were.

Whenever Shazhu's food contrasted sharply with the Jia family's, Jia Zhangshi would mutter curses in the Jia household—not saying Shazhu lacked virtue, but scolding him for making the food so fragrant, then cursing Shazhu to be childless for life and never to bring his food to the Jia household.

The unreasonable, shrewish Jia Zhangshi gave Qin Huairu a feeling of utter exposure, as if the truth had been laid bare.

They're both girls; He Yushui is Shazhu's sister, cradled in his palm.

Xiao Dang, being blood of the Jia family, is Jia Dongxu's daughter and Jia Zhangshi's granddaughter, yet Jia Zhangshi keeps calling her a money‑losing good‑for‑nothing.

Qin Huairu felt weary.

Facing Shazhu, she felt a bit unable to lift her head, as if Shazhu had seen the Jia family's underwear, wondering whether she should hide.

Too late to speak.

Then it was swift.

Just as Qin Huairu was thinking of hiding for a while, waiting for Shazhu and Xu Daming to leave, she was pondering how to get back when Xu Daming, who wholeheartedly hoped Shazhu would take the lead, accidentally stepped on Shazhu's trap; Shazhu, standing behind Xu Daming, kicked him with a foot into the women's toilet.

Xu Daming, flailing as he was kicked into the women's toilet, unintentionally shone his flashlight on Qin Huairu's face.

Under normal circumstances.

Upon seeing Qin Huairu.

The shamelessly bold Xu Daming would inevitably make a teasing remark, given the chance to be alone with Qin Huairu—an opportunity he had dreamed of.

This time.

That time.

When Xu Daming, kicked into the women's toilet by Shazhu, had his flashlight beam hit Qin Huairu's face, he genuinely thought he had seen a ghost; frightened, his cry of 'ah' turned into a voiceless gasp, he slumped unconscious to the ground, Qin Huairu having scared him faint.

In the quiet women's toilet at night, Qin Huairu, a woman, let her black hair hang loose and disheveled, looking far less bright and lovely than before.

This is one factor.

On the other hand, Qin Huairu had cried for half a day in the toilet, leaving two tear tracks on her cheeks; after dust swirled in the restroom, her face was completely smeared, looking even more ghostly than a ghost.

Xu Daming already had ghosts in his mind, mistakenly thinking he'd bumped into one; anxious and on edge, he encountered Qin Huairu's dimensionality‑reducing blow, so it was no surprise he was scared faint.

Outside, Shazhu first heard Xu Daming fall, then a familiar female voice; he rushed in a few steps, his flashlight immediately aiming at Qin Huairu, who was squatting before Xu Daming calling his name.

Fortunately, Shazhu had the guts.

Try someone else.

Sure enough, he followed in Xu Daming's footsteps and was scared faint.

"Qin Huairu?"

Shazhu uncertainly asked, seeing a figure similar to Qin Huairu, and tried calling out.

"Master He."

Qin Huairu turned her head, squeezing out a smile uglier than crying; now, whether she smiled or not, she looked like a ball, having seen a ghost.

"So you, Qin Huairu, were crying in the women's toilet, which scared Xu Daming into thinking he'd seen a ghost—you frightened yourself enough."

Shazhu blurted out a remark, even though Qin Huairu never explicitly told him why she was crying in the toilet at night.

Having lived two lives.

Shazhu still vaguely guessed at a bit of the truth: the reason Qin Huairu was crying, aside from her life being bad, had no other explanation.

Some things, he just needed to know himself; there was no need to speak them out.

He stepped up to Xu Daming, lifted him, and carried him outside the toilet.

The bad air inside is one thing, but we couldn't leave Xu Daming in the toilet to smell it, for fear someone would walk in and mistakenly think Qin Huairu, Shazhu, and Xu Daming were up to some secret mischief in there.

With the idea of eliminating all hidden dangers, Shazhu lifted Xu Daming outside; seeing Xu Daming still unconscious, he carried him to a nearby streetlamp; noticing Qin Huairu about to leave, Shazhu hurriedly called out to wake Xu Daming in her presence, so Xu Daming would see Qin Huairu—otherwise he'd truly think he'd seen a ghost.

Heart ailments are hard to cure.

For Xu Daming's sake, Shazhu went to great trouble; when Qin Huairu, following Shazhu's instructions, stood before Xu Daming, Shazhu mustered his strength and slapped Xu Daming's face twice with a 'pa‑pa‑pa'—a roundabout way, aiming to rouse the Xu Daming frightened faint by Qin Huairu as quickly as possible, which required a hard slap.

As expected.

After the two slaps.

Xu Daming, whose cheeks ached from the slaps, slowly came to.

Just as he opened his eyes, both hands grabbed Shazhu's arms and refused to let go, his voice weak as he shouted, "There's a ghost in the women's toilet, I saw a ghost, it took my life, I can't live on," etc.

It was Qin Huairu's turn to go on stage.

Shazhu pointed at Qin Huairu beside him and earnestly muttered a sentence to Xu Damào.

"Xu Damào, you really bring honor to our Siheyuan; clearly it was Qin Huairu crying in the women's toilet, yet you insist you saw a ghost—where is the ghost?"

Qin Huairu!

Xu Damào stared blankly at Shazhu, seeing Shazhu's face full of undisguised sincerity, he turned his gaze toward Qin Huairu standing nearby.

Qin Huairu smiled at Xu Damào, comforting him according to Shazhu's instructions.

"Xu Damào, it's really me, Qin Huairu; I was the one crying, I'm sorry I scared you by making you think I was a female ghost."

"Really you?"

Xu Damào's tone still held a bit of disbelief.

"How could it be Qin Huairu?"

"Really me."

"I just fainted from fright, and I also saw you?"

"Yes."

"Was the earlier crying also yours?"

"Mm."

"How can I still be a bit doubtful?"

"I swear on the portrait, it was really me crying in the toilet, you heard me; I originally wanted to call you over, you made me kneel and kowtow three times, saying some words." Qin Huairu, to dispel Xu Damào's doubts, repeated his words verbatim: "You said you are the sole heir of three generations of your family, you said Xu Damào hasn't married yet, and if he died, the Xu line would be cut off, so let me off no matter what."

Swearing on the portrait again and repeating Xu Damào's original words, all signs showed Xu Damào had made a mistake; he was completely relieved. Just a moment ago he had been lying on the curb, the next second he sat up straight, touched his cheek with his hand, and stared straight at Shazhu.

"Why does my face hurt so much?"

"Nonsense, you fell face down." Shazhu quickly looked for an excuse, this face-slapping incident couldn't be mentioned, "How could it not hurt?"

"It's fine, you can go back now."

Xu Damào truly brought to life the phrase "use people when you need them, discard them when you don't"; upon realizing the women's toilet crying was Qin Huairu's doing, he felt Shazhu had become an eyesore, a light bulb, and started to drive him away.

Damned Xu Damào.

Truly lecherous beyond measure.

Seeing Qin Huairu, he stirred his lust again.

Shazhu pointed at Xu Damào, turned, and walked toward the Siheyuan.

Qin Huairu originally wanted to go back with Shazhu, but Shazhu didn't give her the chance, Xu Damào didn't give Qin Huairu the chance either, and the damned bastard Xu Damào grabbed her arm.

"Xu Damào, let go, be careful someone sees." Qin Huairu's voice a little urgent, knowing Xu Damào didn't have good intentions, she struggled to break free of his clutches, but couldn't; Xu Damào was stronger, "If someone sees, it's not good, let go."

"Qin Huairu, what are you afraid of? I've been scared half to death by you." Xu Damào didn't follow Qin Huairu's advice to let go; instead he shifted his tone and started questioning Qin Huairu about why she was hiding in the women's toilet late at night, crying secretly; he pretended to understand while actually being clueless, truly unaware of the reason for her crying. "How come you're crying in the women's toilet in the middle of the night? This is me, Xu Damào; if it were anyone else, they'd surely be scared to death by you."

Seeing Xu Damào ask why she was crying, Qin Huairu's panic vanished and she became calm; her depression also made her want to find someone to vent to, especially the Jia family's misfortune, she wanted to find someone to talk to properly; crying in the toilet late at night was also because she felt wronged beyond bearing, she wanted to let it out.

Xu Damào is not much of a person.

He seems to be a decent listener.

In fact.

In Qin Huairu's mind, the best confidant is Shazhu, who has a mature-looking youthful face; compared to Shazhu, Xu Damào is slightly better looking, but falls short in character and conduct.

Having someone to listen is always better than having no one.

Qin Huairu sighed, opened up, and told Xu Damào as much as possible about the Jia family's affairs.

The biggest factor is Jia Zhangshi.

"Xu Damào, tell me, is there a mother-in-law like this? Her son is out there messing around, doing all kinds of wrong, he knows about it, he helps cover it up, yet he tells me I can't bring shame to the Jia family, what does he think I am? A lowly woman? He looks down on me, doesn't want to marry me, if he marries me and brings me home, he treats me like this: in the deep winter I wash the family's clothes outside, my hands are cracked, after washing I still have to go home to cook, cooking is cooking, and I also have to fetch firewood."

Xu Damào didn't speak, nor did he voice any opinion; he quietly listened to Qin Huairu's complaints, and couldn't help but sigh.

Women, you really need to open your eyes; marrying into a bad family is truly suffering.

Just like Qin Huairu before us, she looks glamorous but is actually nothing; returning to Qin Family Village, she still has to put on an act of feigned happiness.

"It's not just me as a daughter-in-law in the courtyard; look at the old Yang family in the front yard, the little Li family in the back yard—check out their mothers-in-law, then look at mine, there's no comparison. Life at home is hard; others actively go to the streets to find work, picking up fire matchboxes, folding paper pieces, trying to supplement the household income. Our mother-in-law is impossible to deal with; you're also a resident of the courtyard, you know I'm not lying—today Elder He even said, saying a pair of cloth shoes took three months to make and still isn't finished."

The more Qin Huairu spoke, the angrier she grew, her tone becoming increasingly urgent.

"I say she's too lazy to work; as a young person I go to the streets to find odd jobs and earn some money to help the household, but she says what? That I'm showing off, that going to the streets to find work is smearing the Jia family's face, smearing Jia Dongxu's face—what kind of life is this?"

Qin Huairu's tears flowed from her eye sockets.

Xu Damào looked at her, not knowing what to say; women really are made of water—how many times she cried tonight, and still she has tears.

"I know the neighbors in our Dayuan all look down on the Jia family; there's nothing we can do, we have no food, Jia Dongxu doesn't care, he gives me just five dollars a month."

Five dollars.

For an ordinary family, that's really enough.

But for the Jia family members of the Siheyuan who love to eat, are lazy, and still want better food, it's truly not enough.

"Coarse tea and plain rice, five dollars can last a month, but my mother-in-law constantly says, 'You're not filial to me as a mother-in-law, you don't give me good food, you'll starve Bangeng to death, leaving her without a grandson; I say I have no money, my mother-in-law tells me to go borrow from an elder.'" Qin Huairu slapped her own cheek, saying, "I married in from the countryside, but I also care about face; what have the Jia family made me into? They ask all over the Siheyuan if there's a daughter-in-law like me; they had Bangeng, delighted, they had Xiao Dang, calling him a money-losing item bite by bite—that's the Jia family's flesh and blood."

Qin Huairu's gaze suddenly fell on Xu Damào.

Xu Damào, who took things for granted, was startled; he always felt a faint strangeness in Qin Huairu's gaze.

"You know that."

That baseless remark left Xu Damào unable to make sense of his own thoughts.

"What do I know?"

"I don't know anything at all."

"Qin Huairu, what are you saying?"

"Jia Dongxu has been keeping a widow outside; you surely know about that."

Xu Daming's heart stirred.

No wonder I hadn't heard Qin Huairu cry before; only tonight did I hear her sobbing.

The crux lies here.

After learning that her husband Jia Zhangshi had taken a mistress, a young widow.

Don't say.

Men and women are forever this indignant on this issue.

"I've heard people say so, but I'm not sure."

Xu Daming did not give a clear answer.

"Xu Daming, I'm telling you, Jia Dongxu has taken on a young widow outside; Jia Zhangshi, upon hearing that the young widow had just married and become a widow, with a big butt, became overjoyed, intent on hugging a great-grandson. Xu Daming, can you help me?"

Qin Huairu gazed at Xu Daming with bright, spirited eyes, a hint of hope in her look.

"What favor?"

"Jia Dongxu works at the Yagangchang, and you work there too; I want to ask you to inquire, to find out who that young widow is and where she lives."

Xu Daming furrowed his brow.

Qin Huairu's tone was somewhat unfriendly.

Could it be that she's been driven mad, seeking a mutual destruction?

If that's really the case, Jia Dongxu probably won't come out well.

Xu Daming's thoughts became lively; this matter held great promise, and he could profit from it. For no other reason, seeing Qin Huairu before him, tearful and delicate, made Xu Daming's heart itch intensely. To avoid seeming too beastly, Xu Daming, against his better judgment, spoke a few kind words for Jia Dongxu.

"Qin Huairu, I can help with this favor, but I want to know why you're doing this. I tell you, if Jia Dongxu is truly found to be cheating on you, he'll surely lose his job at the Yagangchang and might even be imprisoned. You can't sacrifice the big for the small, ruining your own future. If Jia Dongxu goes in, how will you live?"

Qin Huairu smiled and said to Xu Daming: "Xu Daming, rest assured, I don't have that intention; I just want to see the woman Jia Dongxu is involved with, to see what's good about her, why Jia Dongxu favors her so much. Even if I lose, I want to lose openly, knowing wherein I fall short."

"Promise not to cause trouble?"

"Is causing trouble useful?"

Qin Huairu's counter-question made Xu Daming look at her with new respect; this woman doesn't seem too foolish, at least she knows how to weigh options.

"I'll take care of this, though it will take time."

"Xu Daming, thank you."

"Don't thank me; just stop hiding in the toilet to cry from now on. Don't blame me, Qin Huairu—I've been scared by you and still haven't recovered. Why, you ask? Because Jia Zhangshi is a wicked mother-in-law, and because Jia Dongxu has someone else outside, you keep crying. If you ask me, it's as trivial as a rat's backache. You should broaden your mind, as much as possible. As the old saying goes, 'Wherever under heaven there is no fragrant grass? Why cling to a single blossom? Broaden your horizons.'"

As Xu Daming spoke, he became frivolous.

"As I, Xu Daming, see it, Jia Dongxu has betrayed your marriage; you can also adopt the same means to retaliate against Jia Dongxu. Jia Zhangshi fears you'll lose the Jia family's reputation, but if it were me, Xu Daming, you forbid me from doing something, I'll do it anyway, I'll even throw away the Jia family's reputation, just to see who's stronger. Let me tell you, Jia Zhangshi, don't think her meddling and bullying intimidates everyone in the courtyard; it still depends on the person. As long as you dare to act, Jia Zhangshi won't dare to do anything to you."

"Xu Daming." Qin Huairu looked at Xu Daming's big donkey face and said: "You're really not a good person."

Xu Daming paused.

This was the first time he had encountered such praise.

Not a good person.

I am a good person.

If I weren't a good person, would I stay up late at night chatting idly with you?

"Qin Huairu, I'm telling the truth; Jia family, your strength, you must not be afraid."

"Going back to sleep."

Qin Huairu's steps became much lighter; presumably the stone in her heart has finally landed.

Xu Daming watched Qin Huairu's retreating figure, shook his head, suddenly realized, and sprinted after her; seeing Qin Huairu enter the Jia family home, he turned and headed toward Shazhu's house.

That night he still had to deal with Shazhu overnight, sitting knee-to-knee talking about Qin Huairu's matter, letting Shazhu help with that idea.

He pushed the door.

It didn't open.

He muttered in his heart, "Damn Shazhu, a big old man, what's he afraid of, even bolted the door."

He strode toward the rear courtyard.

Jia Family.

Qin Huairu, who had pushed the door and entered, saw Jia Zhangshi sleeping in the outer room like a pig, and then glanced at the inner room where Jia Dongxu lazily ignored her.

Xu Daming's words flashed in her mind: Jia family, you cannot be soft.

She discarded the thought of seizing the moment to punch Jia Zhangshi, and Qin Huairu stepped toward the inner room.

Behind her, Jia Zhangshi sat up straight like a ghost.

Qin Huairu, who had startled Xu Daming, was instead startled by Jia Zhangshi.

Her tone trembled.

"Mom."

"Qin Huairu, you couldn't have done something sorry to our Jia family, could you? Otherwise why would you feel so guilty?"

"I'm going to the toilet."

"There's a chamber pot at home; no need to go outside to the toilet."

"The big one."

"Qin Huairu, old woman, I still say that: you are the daughter-in-law our Jia family took from the countryside into the city; you must not do anything sorry to our Jia family, otherwise I'll hang my stinky shoes at your doorstep, so your parents can never lift their heads."

Jia Zhangshi's warning.

It made Qin Huairu feel a hint of resistance.

But she didn't show it on her face.

"Mom, I won't."

"This is best, hurry up and go to sleep; tomorrow morning get up and make Dong Xu a stuffed pancake, you won't act like a daughter-in-law at all, you won't even shine?"

?? my own husband, still I, this mother-in-law, remind.

Qin Huairu nodded, went into the inner room, took off her shoes, lay down beside Jia Dongxu, gazed at the beams overhead, and thought about these things concerning herself.

Things have come to this.

Qin Huairu also didn't know whether marrying into the city was right or wrong; this maid-like life she now leads is not the life she wanted.

She turned her head to look at Jia Dongxu, who was sleeping soundly; beside the pillow lay a pair of women's underpants that belonged neither to Qin Huairu nor to Jia Zhangshi.

In Qin Huairu's eyes burst a pressing cold light.

Jia Dongxu, right in front of Qin Huairu, openly took back the underpants of his lover; this is a show of force by eating fruit.

What are you trying to do?